Government

The Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed the grant of a fired Department of Correction employee’s petition for judicial
review, finding that it was clear on the record that an administrative agency’s action was without evidentiary foundation.
The appellate court noted the difficulty the judge had in conducting the judicial review due to deficiencies in recording
testimony.

The Indiana Court of Appeals was divided in its ruling on whether a man whose land sits higher and isn’t prone to flooding
should have to pay for the reconstruction of an arm of a nearby drainage ditch. The dissenting judge wrote that Wednesday’s
decision will promote “water wars” between neighbors.

As a part of the series of events the Indiana Department of Child Services is holding to show appreciation for foster families,
a Foster Families Night will be held Aug. 13 at the Gary SouthShore RailCats game.

Indiana has filed a joint complaint in a whistleblower suit against Education Management Corp., which alleges the for-profit
college company and two of its subsidiaries received more than $12 million in state financial aid after making false claims
and misrepresentations to the state.

Although it found the evidence presented in a mail fraud case “thin,” the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals viewed
it as enough to send the case involving three Calumet Township Trustee’s Office employees to the jury.

An Indiana Supreme Court decision upholding three statutes relating to juvenile judges’ authority on out-of-state placement
cases created what the state attorney general’s office calls too much confusion, and the justices should revisit the
ruling it made a little more than a month ago.

Lawyers venturing into politics is not a new concept. But how much influence do those office-seeking or campaign-supporting
attorneys and judges have on the political process, and does it really matter if people have a law degree as part of their
background?

The Office of the Indiana Attorney General filed its appellate brief Monday asking the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals to lift
a preliminary injunction against parts of the new abortion-provider law cutting public Planned Parenthood funding.

The U.S. Department of Justice announced Thursday that it’s closed its investigation into whether federal criminal civil
rights charges should be filed against the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers involved in the arrest of
Indianapolis teenager Brandon Johnson. Johnson claimed officers used excessive force while trying to arrest him.

A four-person search committee continues reviewing applications of individuals who have expressed interest in becoming the
next Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council director. About 20 people have applied to take over the post after the agency’s
current leader, Stephen Johnson, retires Aug. 1.

The ex-East Chicago mayor hit with a $108 million racketeering judgment because of public corruption wants a federal bankruptcy
court to dismiss a civil complaint against him that questions whether the judgment is dischargeable under bankruptcy code.

A federal judge has approved a proposed settlement agreement in a class-action lawsuit against the Indiana Family and Social
Services Administration alleging that an agency policy that doesn’t allow certain Medicaid waiver enrollees to apply
for services other than what’s been approved by their case manager is in violation of federal Medicaid law.

The Indiana Court of Appeals ruled an Anderson City Court judge didn’t wrongly reassign a police warrant officer from
his courtroom because the two didn’t share an employee-employer relationship that would allow for a suit under the Indiana
Wage Claim Statute.

The First Amendment rights of Indiana inmates aren’t being violated by a ban instituted by the Department of Correction
on advertising for pen-pals and receiving materials from resources that allow people to advertise for pen-pals, the 7th Circuit
Court of Appeals held Tuesday.

The Indiana Department of Child Services is teaming up with the Indianapolis Colts and The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
for an event for Indiana foster families July 20. Licensed foster families will receive free admission and will be able to
visit with the Colts’ mascot and get autographs from Colts cheerleaders.

An OmniSource executive says the company wouldn't have made the settlement with the Marion County prosecutor if it knew
more than a third of the cash wouldn't be going to Indianapolis police for training programs.

Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller has filed a civil suit against Beverly S. Elliott, LaGrange County clerk, seeking more
than $18,000 in misappropriated funds. Elliot is also facing criminal charges following an investigation by the State Board
of Accounts and the Indiana State Police.